Double automatic latch for switch-stands



F. C. ANDERSON. DOUBLE AUTOMATIC men FOR swncn STANDS.

APPLICATION FlLED NOV- l5| I9l9. 1,396,946, Patented Nov. 15, 1921.

FAQ.)

AT 'rmzv FIG.

UNITED sTATss PATENT OFFICE.

FRANKC. ANDERSON; or eINcI'NNAT pHIO; ASSIGNOR r THE AMERICAN VALVE &MErEncoMrANY, or CINCINNATI, OHIO, A CORPORATION or OHIO.

DOUBLE AUTOMATIC LATCH FOR SWITCH-STANDS.

To all wizom it may concern.

Be it known that I, FRANK C. ANnnRsoN,

a citizen of the U nited' States, and a resident of Cincinnati, in thecounty of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Double Automatic Latchesfor Switch-Stands, ofwhich the following is a specification.

latches such asset forth in my Patent No.

815,136, granted March 13, 1906, in which the switch levers are. securedagainst move ment under trailic and so constructed as to permit theswitch-operating mechanism to operate automatically under forcecaused bythe train runningfthrough the switch without any damage to the operatingmechanism.

The object of my present invention is to simplify and ,improve theconstruction whereby the latch or keeper and cooperating mechanism maybe adapted to switch-stands of varying heights or; 7 positions of theswitch-stand lever without alteration of the operative elements of theswitch-stands, and to keep the spring actuated plunger in an elevatedposition where its operation will not be interfered with by ice or otherimpediments. Other objects and advantages are attained as will beapparent from an examination of the device illustrated.

My invention consists in the parts and in the combination andarrangement of parts as herein set forth.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a switch and switch-stand having myimproved double automatic latch in operative connection therewith;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of my improved double automatic latch inlocked position with relation to a switch-standlever,

which is shown in transverse section, parts of the view being shownbroken away and in section; I

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showin the latch in leverreleasing position;

Iig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing the latch lever removed;and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the latch lever.

My improved construction is provided I with a latch-stand 6 having aslot 7 formed therein for the reception of switch-throwing lever 8 whichis adapted to rest upon support 9 in the bottom of said slot. A bear-Specificat-ion of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 15, 1921.

Application filed November 15, 1919. Serial No. 338,338.

ing 10 is located on a plane below the support 9 for the pivotalmounting of keeper 11 upon pivot pin 12'mounted in said hearing. 'Thekeeper 11 is provided with a finger 13 which extends through the stand 6to a position beneath cylinder 14 located on the opposite side of stand6 from bean wing 10. This cylinder is on the opposite My inventionrelates to double automatic thereby maintaining nose 2O of keeper 18 inextended position over the switch-stand lever Swvhen it is in latched.position. The upper edge of nose 20 isbeveled to permit switch-throwinglever 8 to .be 'forced into slot 7, thus causing the keeper to tilt backagainst pressure of spring 16 as shown in Fig. 3. In this figure I haveindicated a foot in dotted lines to show that the keeper may be tiltedby foot pressure if desired.

At the upper portion of the latch-stand I have provided ears 24 havingholes through which a pin or the hasp of a padlock may be passed shouldit be desired to prevent the switch being thrown. At the base of thelatch-stand I have formed feet 25 with slotstherein for the reception ofspikes to hold the stands upon the cross ties as shown in Fig. 1. Itwill be seen upon reference to Fig. 1 that I have provided two latchstands which will take care of the switch-stand lever when thrown intoeither of its positions.

In my improved double automatic latch the location of the springcylinder 14 in elevated position upon the opposite side of the latchstand from that shown in my said patent permits of increase .or decreasebeing made in the height of support 9 from the tie upon which the latchstand is located, for the purpose of accommodating the latch or keeperto the location of any switch lever to whlch the latch is to be applied.This feature renders it unnecessary. to alter the length of cylinder 14in any way to accoma stand having a slot therein adapted to receive aswitch stand lever, a keeper pivot- -"ally mounted on one side of saidslot and modate the latch to switch levers located a short distancefrointhe tie such as would have to be done in my patented construction.Accommodation to switch levers located a greater or less distance fromthe surface oi means for securing the switch stand lever ofsw1teh-operat1ngmechanlsm either automatically or rigidly as desired.

I claim:

1. A double automatic latch comprising a stand havinga slot thereinadapted to receive a switch stand lever and also a slot adapted toreceive a keeper for said switch stand lever, a sprlng pressed plungermounted in-elevated position on one side of the "switch stand lever slotand a keeper for said switch stand lever on the opposite side of theswitch stand lever slot from said plunger andhaving a finger thereonextending through a slot therefor and adapted to engage the lower end ofsaid spring pressed plunger whereby said keeper'is adapted to beautomatically opened and closedfwhen said switch stand lever ismovedpast said keeper in either direction. j 7' r 2. .A double. automaticlatch comprising I having a nose adapted to normally project into saidslot and over said switch stand lever and having a finger adapted toproject beneath said slot and to the side thereof opposite said keeperand a spring pressed plunger mounted in elevated position on theopposite side of said slot from said keeper and adapted to engage saidfinger whereby the force 01" said lever in operation in either directionis adapted to automatically open said keeper and whereby said keeper isadapted to automatically return to closed position before or after saidlever has passed the nose thereof.

3. A double automatic latch comprising av stand having a slot for aswitch stand lever, and having a slot for receivinga keeper to engagesaid switch stand lever, a spring pressed plunger mounted in elevatedposition, said keeper being pivotally mounted in the slot for saidkeeper at one side of and below said slot for said switch stand leverand having a nose normally projecting into the slot for the switch standlever and also having a finger extending through a slot therefor adaptedto engage said spring pressed plunger whereby said keeper is adapted tobe automatically thrown to open and closed position, respectively, whensaid switch stand lever is moved upwardly or downwardly past said nose.

FRANK C. ANDERSON.

Witnesses:

J AMES N. RAMsEY, MARY E. MCCONNELL.

